Why is the Community Shield important? 

The FA Community Shield serves as the curtain-raiser for the upcoming English Premier League season, with the reigning EPL champions pitted against the incumbent FA Cup winners. According to the English Football Association, the one-off game ‘captures the excitement’ of the upcoming season. Despite occasional debates about its importance, when compared to the other major English tournaments held during the season — the EPL, FA Cup and the English Football League (EFL) Cup — the Community Shield is well revered. “It has been highly regarded and supported by the participating clubs and football fans for many years,” said an FA spokesperson. 

One of the main reasons for this is the history associated with the competition, which dates back to the 19th century. The Community Shield evolved from the Sheriff of London Charity Shield, which was first introduced in 1898 as a traditional ‘gentlemen vs amateurs’ game. Its more serious incarnation was the Charity Shield, which debuted in 1908 — featuring Manchester United and Queen’s Park Rangers. 

The Red Devils beat QPR 4-0 in a replay after drawing the initial game 1-1. Unsurprisingly, Manchester United are the record champions of the Community Shield, having won it on 21 occasions. The Community Shield has been held at the start of the season since 1959.